BCG Daily Thursday 18th February 2016

Roy Clarke on the real life Hyacinth Buckets

Roy Clarke, the creator of Keeping Up Appearances, explains Hyacinth's enduring and global appeal...

Review - Gein's Family Giftshop: Trophy Collection

This isn't a comedy show for everybody, as the trio themselves point out several times during the evening. The pace generally holds up well to keep the laughs coming all night and the writing and performances are both so sharp, you wonder what Gein's Family Giftshop could become if they ever decide to go more mainstream. But for now, their show is the most low-brow, puerile, bodily obsessed, and silly evening's entertainment imaginable, and most importantly of all, if you do have a tolerance to bad taste, very funny.

Review - Simon Evans: In The Money - The Lowry, Salford

As a show about economics In The Money disappoints lacking the insight or even anger that one might hope from such a provocative topic. The show is worth catching, however, for the polished script and excellent delivery. All of the jokes are buffed to a high sheen with excellent turns of phrase and Evans is the master of the loaded pause leading up to the punchline.

Interview: Joe Lycett

Joe Lycett brings his hit show to Ireland - then heads to the Oscars.

Top five British comedy panel shows to follow

The current British comedy scene is dominated by panel shows that emphasize on humorous banter and the comic value of things rather competing for a grand prize. Not only do they work as great stress busters, but there's a lot of random information to learn from since most of them are based on current affairs. Here is a list of the top five British comedy panel shows that are still airing.

Fresh Meat cast interview

Towards the end of last year, I caught up with the cast of Fresh Meat; Zawe Ashton (Vod), Charlotte Ritchie (Oregon), Joe Thomas (Kingsley), Kimberley Nixon (Josie) and Jack Whitehall (JP), ahead of the fourth (and sadly) final series.

John Cleese rules out Fawlty Towers musical

John Cleese, who played bumbling British hotel manager Basil Fawlty in the hit 1970s TV series, says a musical version of Fawlty Towers would never work.

Comedy festival review: Ed Byrne at Curve

With mass appeal (but not to the scale of De Montfort Hall, he jokingly lamented) Byrne's show was consistently funny and a festival highlight.

Comedy festival review: Anne Reid at Curve

I left smiling like the Cheshire cat. It will all be OK in the end. Anne says so.

TV review: Alan Partridge's Mid Morning Matters

I was a little disappointed at first when I watched Alan Partridge's new series on Sky Atlantic, but for a while I couldn't work out why. Everything seemed to be in place, from the foot-in-mouth soundbites to Sidekick Simon to the terrible midde-aged clothes to the feeble attempts to appear down with the North Norfolk Digital kids.

Then I realised what the problem was. The Alpha Papa film was so brilliant at opening up Alan and giving him more space to breathe and make a sad twat of himself that suddenly this radio studio-based version doesn't work quite so well. I wanted Alan to be out on the road miming along to Roachford's Cuddly Toy, not quizzing posh foxhunter Sir Cecil Crooms-Phillips.

Online TV review: Cuckoo, BBC Three, BBC iPlayer

So welcome to the brave new world of BBC Three online. Except that maybe it is not quite as brave or new as expected. Hit sitcom Cuckoo is back for a third series of comic family chaos in Lichfield and, apart from needing broadband to watch it, not much has changed.

Comedy festival review: Pat Cahill at The Globe

Some comics have to try super hard to master their craft; not so Pat Cahill. Here's a man who could probably make the mundane funny simply by standing on stage, a man with so much boyish charm and wayward ebullience that you come away from one of his shows knowing that your comedy insides have had a cracking work-out.

Comedy festival review: Andrew Ryan at The Globe

Irish charmer Andrew Ryan strides confidently onto stage and using his finest football analogies admits his show might lack the stamina to reach the final whistle.

Video: Nicholas Parsons on Paul Merton's JAM milestone

As Paul Merton clocks up more appearances on Just a Minute than veteran player Kenneth Williams, Nicholas Parsons celebrates his momentous milestone.

Keep Calman Carry On preview

Youth Hostelling with Chris Eubank might not have taken off, but maybe Hill Walking with Muriel Gray will.

The war on humour is no laughing matter

When Stephen Fry is expected to hold the line for comic freedom, we're in real trouble.

Milton Jones interview

Stand-up comedian Milton Jones on growing up at the height of Thatcher, his invisible school years and the secret to a long marriage...

You, Me and the Apocalypse review

Armageddon time has never been so much fun - or so thoughtfully explored - and that friction makes this show a joy to watch.

Preview: Mixtape: Alternative

The show features comedy sketches inspired by indie tunes, rock tracks and classic Britpop anthems. It's a raucous night out for music and pop quiz fans.

Review: 60 Seconds To Shine Untapped Comedy Final

On a night when ten untapped comedians aimed to smash it at the 60 Seconds To Shine untapped comedy talent contest final, it was MC Muriel Oduro who stole the show. Also appearing: AJ Roberts, Ben Sarpong, Gary Davis, Icyjisal Comedian Jones, Zara Elizabeth Brown, Jay Islaam, Jojo Georgiou, Paul Cox, Elroy Welsh, Shep Michaels.

Review: Ed Byrne at the Leicester Comedy Festival

With mass appeal (but not to the scale of De Montfort Hall, he jokingly lamented) Byrne's show was consistently funny and a festival highlight.

Review: Andrew Ryan at the Leicester Comedy Festival

Irish charmer Andrew Ryan strides confidently onto stage and using his finest football analogies admits his show might lack the stamina to reach the final whistle, writes Melissa Harris.

Review: Pat Cahill at the Leicester Comedy Festival

Some comics have to try super hard to master their craft; not so Pat Cahill.